About 2:25 p.m., a man driving a 2008 Chevy Tahoe southbound drifted to the left over several lanes and hit a 53-year-old woman on a bicycle near Burney Way, in Sacramento's Arden Arcade area, according to the CHP.

She was hit from behind, thrown from the bike and died upon impact, police said. The bicyclist was riding against traffic in the northbound bike lane.

She was run over by the SUV, as well.

The Tahoe then hit a tree off the side of the roadway head-on and burst into flames, the CHP said.

A female passenger inside the SUV, who was not wearing her seat belt, also was killed on impact, according to police. She hit her head on the windshield and was thrown into the back of the Tahoe.

The driver was taken to Mercy San Juan Hospital with major injuries but died a short time after arriving.

The CHP is investigating what led to the wreck. Police said they found open bottles of alcohol in the SUV and believe the driver was under the influence at the time.

A toxicology test is pending. The driver wasn't wearing his seat belt, either, the CHP said.

An initial investigation shows he was traveling at least 10 mph faster than the speed limit when he crashed. The front wheel was ripped from the SUV.

Several drivers and witnesses in the area helped pull the people from the SUV, start CPR, and assisted the bicyclist, as well.

She was thrown at least 100 feet in the crash.

Howe Avenue from El Camino to north of Burney Way reopened just before 6 p.m.